Hanging Piece Copse

You'll find this small woodland tucked away near Holford, Somerset - the sort of place locals know but most visitors drive straight past. It's a proper forest walk rather than a formal attraction, with proper trees, decent paths, and enough space to feel like you've actually escaped rather than just wandered round a car park for forty minutes.

The Copse itself is manageable on foot - nothing that'll knacker you out, but enough of a wander to make it feel worthwhile. The woodland is thick enough that you lose sight of the surrounding countryside, which counts for something when you're after a genuine bit of quiet. It's the kind of spot where kids can actually run about without you having a heart attack about them disappearing, and the forest floor is firm enough that you won't spend the whole time scraping mud off trainers.

Walkers will get the most from this one. There's no visitor centre or tea room, so come expecting woodland and nothing else. Bring a map or know what you're doing, because signage is minimal. Since it's free and open access, you can turn up whenever suits - early morning is genuinely nicer if you can manage it.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites like Mill Farm or Moorhouse Campsite, this works as a morning sortie before heading towards the Quantocks proper. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a wider Somerset walking trip it fills an awkward gap nicely.